Quadratus of Athens: Real

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You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. John 15:16

“Our Saviour’s works, moreover, were always present: for they were real, consisting of those who had been healed of their diseases, those who had been raised from the dead; who were not only seen whilst they were being healed and raised up, but were afterwards constantly present. Nor did they remain only during the sojourn of the Saviour on earth, but also a considerable time after His departure; and, indeed, some of them have survived even down to our own times.”

Quadratus of Athens (c. 126) in Fragments of Quadratus of Athens (Roberts-Donaldson English Translation).

Jesus invites us to follow Him and do the good works He did. Specifically, He appointed us us to produce “fruit that will last.” By this way, after we are long gone, the fruit will continue to be evident.

Quadratus was an early Christian apologist. He is said to have presented his apology to Hadrian in Athens when the emperor attended the celebration of the Eleusinian mysteries.

The period of the emperor Hadrian, during which Quadratus is said to have made his apology, was from 117 CE to 138 CE. Scholars date this writing around 126 CE.

We don’t know what he said, but we can surmise that he reported the facts, the fruits of the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ so the emperor would know the truth. What a bold brother!

What we do know from this fragment is that Quadratus reported that the works of Jesus were “always present” and “real” and their impact continued “a considerable time” after his ascension.

Think about the significance of this.

If we follow in the footsteps of Jesus, our good works, our generosity should likewise be “always present” and “real” have an ongoing impact “a considerable time” after we are gone.

Sit with this question. God, can you show me by the Holy Spirit the works you have for me in 2023 so that they are “always present” and “real” and have an impact “a considerable time” after I am gone?